Wales is a beautiful and varied place, loaded with heritage, symbolism and vibrant scenery.

But have you ever wondered which is the most important location in this diverse country?

During the third History Month, we're hoping to answer that question.

In the third Welsh History Month, which started last weekend, a team of top academics are investigating the notion of place and will be debating what is the most important place in the history of Wales.

The previous two History Months have been hugely successful - the first, A New History of Wales, which debunked many of the “givens” about our past was turned into a best-selling book by Gomer press. Professor Bowen also led a series of popular debates on the series at the Hay Festival last year.

The last series, Welsh Heroes and Villains, will also be published by Gomer and will be launched at the Hay Festival in June. Professor Bowen will again be leading a series of debates which will be open to the public.

Professor Bowen explains: “It was primarily people who animated and shaped the world around them, and individually and collectively their actions are what makes the past so interesting and of great importance to us all.

“But history is also all about place. This is because places provide the context for all human actions, and like our ancestors we are all shaped by our environment: where we live, work, and visit.”

Dr Peter Wakelin, secretary of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, said a series such as this is essential to understanding messages from the past.

“Sadly, we lost an incredible amount of our industrial heritage in the last two generations. But the passion to clear any trace of hated ironmasters and strife has given way to a more mature appreciation that our history is our history, good and bad.

“It is vital that interpretation of our heritage is not just nostalgic or tourism-driven. Understanding buildings and places is one of the things that help keep communities healthy.”

Professor Bowen added: “As in the previous two series of essays in the Western Mail we want to encourage readers to think critically about Welsh history. We don’t wish to provoke controversy for controversy’s sake but we do want to challenge myths and misconceptions about the significance of selected places and buildings.

“And in bringing our latest research findings to readers we want to take them to the cutting-edge of current debate. This can only be done in the essay form, where the author has the space to develop an argument and support it with detail and evidence.

“We certainly won’t be recounting an old-fashioned story of Wales, because good history is not about telling well-known tales. The past is a complex and difficult place that can’t be easily packaged and explained. There are many rough edges and awkward bits, and they need a combination of expertise and extended commentary to make them comprehensible. Even then, there will always be much to disagree about, and this is where debate comes in as the essential ingredient for good history.

“Nobody owns the past, least of all academic historians, and no-one has a monopoly in terms of delivering the history of a nation, state, community or place.”

Huw Lewis AM, minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, said: “I very much welcome this forthcoming series of essays looking at buildings and places in Welsh history because they will encourage debate and inspire people to look afresh at the familiar.

“Our heritage has sometimes been undervalued and undersold. For instance, on my own patch in the South Wales Valleys, we tried to destroy swathes of industrial heritage in the 1960s because we thought it was an impediment to progress.

“That was a huge mistake, not just in terms of preservation and restoration for its own sake, but also because heritage is an asset for the future.

I want us to celebrate our heritage and appreciate it for the distinctiveness it brings to places and for the part it can play in fostering community well-being.

“Welsh people have a pride in place and I want to build on that. I want to engender the kind of local pride and energy that we can mobilise for public benefit.”

Ceri Gould, executive editor of Media Wales, said: “As with the first two series, History Research Wales with their dynamic academics have come up with challenging arguments regarding which place is deserving as the ‘most important’ in Welsh history.

“Hopefully, they will again provoke much discussion, debate and dissension. This time too, readers can have their say over which nomination they support.

“You can read the arguments the historians make in favour of, for example, the M4 motorway or Mametz Wood, and you can register which place gets your vote.”

“There will be interesting conversations ahead, no doubt.”

Next page: The Welsh locations nominated as the most important in our history

Here are the sites in Wales proposed by our experts as the most important in Welsh history - and the links to those that have been published.

And we're asking for your views on which is the most vital in the development of the Welsh nation - peruse the links to the articles below, and then make your selection in the poll box underneath.

Alternatively, tweet your views using the hashtag #welshhistorymonth, post a message on the Western Mail Facebook page, leave a comment here, or email ceri.gould@walesonline.co.uk.